Butterflies in Greece
Greece is home to several species of butterflies like the Two-tailed Pasha, the Clouded Yellow, and the Southern White Admiral.
Butterflies in Greece
List of Different Butterfly Species of Greece
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- African Ringlet (Ypthima asterope)
- Balkan Fritillary (Boloria graeca)
- Balkan Grayling (Hipparchia senthes)
- Balkan Marbled White (Melanargia larissa)
- Black Ringlet (Erebia melas)
- Bright Eyed Ringlet (Erebia oeme)
- Buff Asian Grayling (Pseudochazara amymone)
- Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
- Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Common Brassy Ringlet (Erebia cassioides)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- Dark Rock Brown (Chazara briseis)
- Delattin’s Grayling (Hipparchia volgensis)
- Dils’ Grayling (Pseudochazara orestes)
- Dryad (Minois dryas)
- Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon)
- Eastern Large Heath (Coenonympha rhodopensis)
- Esper’s Marbled White (Melanargia russiae)
- European Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)
- False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa)
- Freyer’s Fritillary (Melitaea arduinna)
- Freyer’s Grayling (Hipparchia fatua)
- Freyer’s Purple Emperor (Apatura metis)
- Geyer’s Skipper (Pseudochazara geyeri)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe)
- Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula)
- Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
- Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Hungarian Glider (Neptis rivularis)
- Iranian Argus (Kirinia climene)
- Large Ringlet (Erebia euryale)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
- Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)
- Lesser Spotted Frillitary (Melitaea trivia)
- Macedonian Grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne)
- Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Meadow Ringlet (Erebia ligea)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Nichol’s Ringlet (Erebia rhodopensis)
- Nickerl’s Fritillary (Melitaea aurelia)
- Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe)
- Northern Wall Brown (Lasiommata petropolitana)
- Oriental Heath Fritillary (Coenonympha orientalis)
- Hipparchia syriaca
- Ottoman Brassy Ringlet (Erebia ottomana)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pallas’ Sailer (Neptis sappho)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
- Phoebe Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)
- Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
- Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi)
- Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Roxelana’s Grayling (Kirinia roxelana)
- Russian Heath (Coenonympha leander)
- Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Small Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Southern Comma (Polygonia egea)
- Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia)
- Southern Marbled Skipper (Hyponephele lupinus)
- Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
- Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)
- Turkish Meadow Brown (Maniola telmessia)
- Twin-spot Fritillary (Brenthis hecate)
- Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius)
- Violet Frillitary (Boloria dia)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
- Woodland Grayling (Hipparchia fagi)
- Woodland Ringlet (Erebia medusa)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Coenonympha thyrsis
- Hipparchia christenseni
- Hipparchia cretica
- Hipparchia mersina
- Hipparchia pellucida
- Maniola chia
- Maniola halicarnassus
- Maniola megala
- Proterebia afra
- Pseudochazara anthelea
- Pseudochazara graeca
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
- Alcon Blue (Phengaris alcon)
- Amanda’s Blue (Polyommatus amandus)
- Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus admetus)
- Balkan Blue (Agriades dardanus)
- Bavius Blue (Pseudophilotes bavius)
- Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
- Blue Argus (Aricia anteros)
- Blue-spot Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)
- Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
- Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
- Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
- Chapman’s Blue (Polyommatus thersites)
- Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon)
- Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)
- Dorylas Blue (Polyommatus dorylas)
- Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)
- Eastern Brown Argus (Kretania eurypilus)
- Eastern Short-tailed Blue (Cupido decolorata)
- Eros Blue (Polyommatus eros)
- Escher’s Blue (Polyommatus escheri)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon)
- Golden Copper (Lycaena thetis)
- Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus)
- Grecian Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus aroaniensis)
- Grecian Copper (Lycaena ottomanus)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Green-underside Blue (Glaucopsyche alexis)
- Higgins’s Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus nephohiptamenos)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis)
- Iolas Blue (Iolana iolas)
- Kolev’s Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus orphicus)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Large Blue (Phengaris arion)
- Large copper (Lycaena dispar)
- Large Jewel Blue (Plebejidea loewii)
- Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon)
- Little Tiger Pierrot (Tarucus balkanica)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
- Meleager’s Blue (Polyommatus daphnis)
- Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes)
- Odd-spot Blue (Turanana panagea)
- Orange Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium ledereri)
- Orion Blue (Scolitantides orion)
- Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris)
- Provençal Short-tailed Blue (Cupido alcetas)
- Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)
- Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)
- Reverdin’s Blue (Plebejus argyrognomon)
- Ripart’s Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii)
- Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
- Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
- Kretania psylorita
- Kretania sephirus
- Lycaena candens
- Neolysandra coelestina
- Polyommatus andronicus
- Polyommatus iphigenia
- Polyommatus timfristos
- Turanana taygetica
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Balkan Clouded Yellow (Colias caucasica)
- Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
- Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Eastern Bath White (Pontia edusa)
- Eastern Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia)
- Eastern Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe penia)
- Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias erate)
- Eastern Wood White (Leptidea duponcheli)
- Greek Clouded Butterfly (Colias aurorina)
- Green-underside White (Anthocharis gruneri)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Krüper’s Small White (Pieris krueperi)
- Lesser Bath White (Pontia chloridice)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Persian White (Pieris ergane)
- Powdered Brimstone (Gonepteryx farinosa)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Southern Small White (Pieris mannii)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
- Eastern Orange Tip (Anthocharis damone)
- Pieris balcana
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Alexandra’s Swallowtail (Papilio alexanor)
- Apollo (Parnassius apollo)
- Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne)
- Eastern Festoon (Zerynthia cerisy)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
- Southern Festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)
- False Apollo (Archon apollinus)
- Zerynthia cretica
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Tufted Skipper (Carcharodus floccifera)
- Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae)
- Oriental Skipper (Carcharodus orientalis)
- Stauder’s Clouded Yellow (Carcharodus stauderi)
- Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Inky Skipper (Erynnis marloyi)
- Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
- Dingy Swift (Gegenes nostrodamus)
- Pygmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)
- Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto)
- Tessellated Skipper (Muschampia tessellum)
- Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
- Pale Small-branded Swift (Pelopidas thrax)
- Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus)
- Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
- Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
- Sandy-grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cinarae)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
- Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae)
- Yellow-banded Skipper (Pyrgus sidae)
- Hungaria Skipper (Spialia orbifer)
- Persian Skipper (Spialia phlomidis)
- Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
- Levantine Skipper (Thymelicus hyrax)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
The most notable place to see butterflies in Greece is the Petaloudes Valley, located on the island of Paros.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common butterfly families found in Greece?
The most common butterfly family in Greece is the Brush-Footed family, known as Nymphalidae. This large group includes a wide variety of species such as the Balkan Fritillary, Great Banded Grayling, and European Nettle-tree Butterfly, which are frequently observed in the country’s diverse natural habitats.
When is the peak season for butterfly watching in Greece?
The peak season for butterfly watching in Greece generally runs from late spring through summer, specifically from May to August. During these warmer months, the highest diversity and abundance of species are active, though different butterflies emerge at various times, offering new sightings throughout the season.
How many butterfly species are native to Greece?
Greece is home to approximately 235 native butterfly species, making it one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe for lepidoptera. This richness is attributed to its varied geography, including numerous islands and mountain ranges that create a wide array of habitats supporting distinct butterfly populations.
What types of Fritillary butterflies can be seen in Greece?
Greece hosts numerous types of Fritillary butterflies, including the Balkan Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Glanville Fritillary, and Marbled Fritillary. These members of the Nymphalidae family are typically characterized by their orange and black checkered patterns and are found in habitats ranging from mountain meadows to open woodlands.
Are there any well-known migratory butterflies in Greece?
Yes, several well-known migratory butterflies are found in Greece, including the Clouded Yellow and the Painted Lady. These species undertake long-distance flights, migrating north from Africa and the Mediterranean in the spring. Their subsequent generations then make the return journey south during the autumn months.
Where is the best place in Greece to see a large number of butterflies?
The best place in Greece to see a large number of butterflies is the island of Rhodes, specifically in an area known as the Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes). This unique nature reserve is famous for its summer congregation of the Jersey Tiger moth, attracting enthusiasts from around the world.
How can you identify the Great Banded Grayling butterfly in Greece?
The Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) is identified by its large size and distinctive dark brown or blackish wings crossed by a broad, white vertical band. This striking pattern makes it relatively easy to distinguish from other Grayling species when it is seen resting on tree trunks or paths.
